Explosive Report Reveals What Joe Buck & Troy Aikman Reportedly Said To Each Other During Their Fight Before ‘Monday Night Football’

This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.

The words exchanged between Troy Aikman and Joe Buck during their heated Monday Night Football argument have been revealed. 

Aikman and Buck have called NFL games together for 25 years. Their partnership now looks fragile ahead of ESPN’s first Super Bowl.

ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro recruited the pair from Fox in 2022. He signed them for $165 million over five years: $90 million for Aikman and $75 million for Buck.

The two had a reported heated argument in the booth before ESPN’s October 12 broadcast at SoFi Stadium. The Athletic‘s sources say Buck opened by asking, “You are not going to f**king talk to me?”

The same sources say Buck then told Aikman, “I’m not the reason you don’t have a contract.” Aikman, 59, shot back, “I just never thought you’d do it to me.” Buck, 57, replied, “They got rid of them because you were screaming at them.”

The Athletic reports Aikman has long believed Buck drove the turnover of producers and directors. ESPN cycled through five MNF producers and directors in four seasons.

Aikman’s Contract Talks Stalled While Buck Signed A Six-Year, $108 Million Extension

The Athletic reports that ESPN and Buck quietly agreed to the deal this spring. It includes a 17.9 percent raise, and nobody told Aikman.

Aikman remains unsigned. His side offered to return for a similar raise, and ESPN declined. The network has paused talks until after the Super Bowl.

The publication says ESPN has taken Buck’s side. People in sports media consider Fox analyst Greg Olsen the favorite among candidates to replace Aikman.

The plan still calls for the duo to finish the season together.

The Athletic recalls Aikman’s words at a Fox retirement party for Jimmy Johnson in summer 2025. 

Sources present quote him as saying, “In case anyone is wondering, the grass isn’t always greener.”